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CNN Live Today

CDC Debating Use of Smallpox Vaccine

Aired June 20, 2002 - 12:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The threat of bioterrorism is prompting a CDC panel to evaluate its policy on smallpox vaccine. The panel is debating whether the vaccine should be made more widely available.

Our medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland joins us live with more on that -- hi there, Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka.

This has become a pressing question because the government has committed to making enough vaccine for every American by the end of the year. So, you may say, if there is going to enough vaccine, why not make it available? This is not an easy question because the vaccine is very risky. It's the most dangerous vaccine that is available. And, just historically, we stopped routine immunizations in this country in 1972.

So, the questions before this panel, there are several of them. The first one is: Should the vaccine be made available to the general public? And they have four options: the first, not making it available; the second, not recommending it, but making it available to those who choose it; the third, the government would be neutral, but make the vaccine available; and the fourth would be to reinstitute routine vaccinations.

The second important question they are looking at is, besides laboratory workers, a limited number who are currently vaccinated, should it be expanded to include other occupational groups? Now, the panel has been talking about the dangers of this vaccine, which can range from swelling to encephalitis to even death. And, also, they are very concerned about a group of 40 million Americans who have survived cancer, who have HIV or AIDS, who have organ transplants, or who have skin conditions.

This is a group that did not exist back in the '70s, when we routinely immunized everyone. So, those are some of their concerns. And, Fredricka, the panel should make a final recommendation by the end of the day.

WHITFIELD: And, Rhonda, is it too early to say what the overwhelming consensus just may be among the panel?

ROWLAND: Well, it seems that a case is definitely being made against routinely immunizing everybody because of the dangers. And, in fact, we have had very little public support here where people are actually coming out and demanding the vaccine, even though there was a survey conducted several weeks ago by Harvard University showing that three out of five Americans would like the vaccine.

But, it seems, clearly the case is being made against that, although they are talking a lot about expanding vaccination of a number of medical workers. And, again, we will hear more about that later today.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rhonda Rowland, thank you very much.

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